Evaluation of Attitudes and Knowledge on Cervical Cancer among Women from Rural and Urban Areas of Romania

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the attitudes and knowledge of cervical cancer screening among women in rural and urban areas of Romania.
Study design: We conducted a descriptive, transversal study on 639 women from Romania, between January and June 2015. For statistical data analysis, R for Data Analysis and Graphics version 3.2.1 was used.
Results: The probability of the women getting screened for cervical cancer is 3.18 (95% CI 2.1 - 4.84) times higher for women living in the urban area than those living in the rural area, p<0.00. The probability of the women from the urban area knowing about this vaccine is 1.55 times (95% CI 1.02 - 2.36) higher in comparison to women living in the rural area, p<0.05. Women’s attitudes towards preventing cervical cancer by introducing sexual education courses in schools, the chance of them agreeing with this statement is 2.31 times (95% CI 1.04 - 4.91) higher for women living in the urban area, compared to those living in the rural area, p<0.05.
Conclusions: Women from urban areas have more knowledge of prevention of cervical cancer as compared to women from rural areas. This study brings new evidence which can represent the basis for prevention campaigns, prevention programs and evidencebased public policies in order to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.